Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
AN INVESTIGATION HAS found “no evidence” that gardaí in Mayo were supplied with alcohol by a company at the Corrib gas project.
A number of allegations were made in the middle of last year that OSSL, a company that procured materials and services for Shell, had delivered €35,000 worth of alcohol to Belmullet Garda Station in December 2007.
A report published this evening by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) found “no evidence of the purchase or delivery of alcohol to garda stations, nor of any misconduct of garda members”.
It warned that the allegations had the potential to undermine public confidence in the force.
The report claims that the company that was the subject of the report withdrew their cooperation with the investigation once GSOC requested a number of documents such as bank statements and proofs of purchase.
Numerous gardaí were interviewed as part of the investigation.
These ranged from those who were named by the company involved, and also those who were involved with the station in December 2005, December 2006, and December 2007.
“We hope that publicly explaining the proportionate, fair and independent investigation of this matter will promote confidence of members of the public and of the Garda Síochána in police oversight in this country,” the report concludes.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Crusties get it wrong again
The matter was investigated, absolute nonsense made up by a load of idiots, half of which speak in English accents and feel the need to protest over next to nothing in this country.
Investigated, no evidence, instead of being so negative towards our police force how about we start showing them a bit of support…. Then again, I guess people just prefer to give out about the authorities?!?!?
Is this the case where the evidence consisted of an invoice dated years after the event with approximate prices and fake VAT number?
No, its the case where a UK based company stated that they delivered a van load of booze across the border to the Gardaí.
Obviously they misled everyone
GSOC finds “no evidence” of booze deliveries for gardaí at Shell project…. of course not they drank it all
GSOC. A great bunch of lads
And why would they…… GSOC is filled with currently serving Gardai still.
That is not independent and reliable.
So who was it that prepared the investigation files for DPP that lead to Gardai being brought before the Courts then!?
Prem.. currently serving members of an garda siochana also work for gsoc… Your facts are all wrong
Premium Gamerz, name one
No it isn’t? What are you on about?
A guard from mayo finds the guards in mayo innocent? Now, there’s a shocker.
Gsoc investigated it
GSOC has currently serving members of the Gardai on their board.
So yes it is no surprise they found nothing on themselves.
Smartass.
No they didn’t Jason. Look at the Irish times website. They farmed it out to a guard from Swinford to investigate.
Read the report Sean, ‘gsoc have carried out a thorough independent investigation’
Read the article I’ve linked to below Jason. But don’t let facts get in the way of your ill informed ignorance.
Read article below dario. This one is a serving superintendent.
Sounds like liars making false allegations against the cops in Mayo . Riff raff supporting them then .
Sean, you’re being a little selective about what aspects of that IT article you wish to highlight. What about the part where GSOC are quoted from their report as saying, “We hope that publicly explaining the proportionate, fair and independent investigation of this matter will promote confidence of members of the public and of the Garda Síochána in police oversight in this country,”.
I personally like the bit where, when the complainants were asked to produce documentary evidence to substantiate the allegations, they withdrew their co-operation. What about that rather salient point Seán?
So what if GSOC deferred some/all of the investigation to a serving senior Garda. It is within their remit to do so. What you seem to gloss over is the fact that while they may very well defer some investigative tasks to serving members, it is done with complete oversight from GSOC. All/any evidence gathered by that serving senior Garda is subject to review by GSOC, who must ultimately standby and sign off on same. Which they have done Sean.
This is the same GSOC, with the same serving Gardaí inside, that has successfully prosecuted and convicted several Gardaí for various criminal actions in recent times. Surely the insiders would have sculpted those prosecutions too Seán, if your conspiracy theory is to be taken to its logical conclusion?
Seán, call it as if is. You just hate the guards. You can’t handle the thought that they are innocent of this allegation.
Well said! Some people just can’t handle the truth.
Didn’t they claim originally that they weren’t allowed to invoice the Gardai or get a Purchase Order from them and that everything was done over the phone? How could they produce any evidence….on paper it never happened?!
It never happened . You’re right. Anyway if one of those “protesters” picked up a phone and purported to be from Shell and ordered that drink to be delivered to the garda station it would make more sense. Give themselves something to whine about.
John, I don’t hate the guards as you put it. Far from it. Guards investigating guards just doesn’t work. Gsoc was brought in so this practice could be stopped. Clearly hasn’t. Furthermore, it wasn’t merely any guard who investigated it but a guard who worked with several of those under investigation and from the same County to boot. I’m not in any way standing up for the company involved although, having seen what went on down there I don’t doubt this and worse has happened. The point I made from the beginning was a mayo guard shouldn’t be investigating mayo guards. But don’t read my comment properly if if makes you feel better.
The result of GSOC’s investigation into this matter clearly highlights that there was absolutely no evidence whatsoever to substantiate the allegations made. Allegations of the gravest and most serious nature, which would have resulted, if true, in serious criminal charges against members of the Gardaí.
The question must be asked here, will GSOC now refer this matter to the DPP on the basis that the original complaints appear now to have been utterly vexatious and without any foundation?
Part of the legislation that established GSOC means that you can make any allegation you want without substantiating it and not have to worry about been investigated for making a false complaint.
@The Throwaway… You’re wrong. Section 110(1) of the Garda Síochána Act, 2005 allows for a prosecution where “false or misleading” information is given to GSOC. You can be prosecuted, and in this instance should same be true, they should be.
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2005/en/act/pub/0020/sec0110.html#sec110
Mayo in May looks very cold ; look at the poor craythurs and they having to wear scarves ; We truly don’t appreciate our Gardaí enough … out in all kinds of weather protecting the weak against the strong , upholding the law etc.
Who cares if they got a bit of drink or not ….
I don’t know about any of ye but I would be well cheesed ….off if there was a British policeman who ahs already sworn allegiance to the Queen of England in charge of G.S.O.C.
This can’t be good for maorale no matter what way one looks at it !
NOT ONLY THAT BUT SIMON O BRIEN IS AN MI5 SPOOK
he won’t spook those guys up there I can tell you ! ..not implying he’s spook now or anything !
@SeekingUniverslTruth
Simon O’Brien was an officer of the Metropolitan Police Service, not MI5, before he became Chairperson of GSOC.
he was both
Seeking ; do you not know the rules of dealing with spies in Ireland ;
1. Check to see if he can drink guinness.
2. See if he can play twenty five.
3. Can he lie backways when all evidence points to the contrary ?
4. Has he an Irish name ?
5. Can he hold a hurley without looking like a camoige player ?
6. Can he sing the Green fields of France ?
If he fits all of the above then leave him alone cos he’s only a misguided Irishman answering his internal homing beacon ; he will therefore end up being a complete waste of space for the British and more importantly a waste of the Queen’s money !
If he fails any of the above then attach an Irish Colleneen to his arm with strict instructions ; Not one Kiss until he can carry out all of the above checks ! … then see the points after point 6.
The above has been kindly provided to me by Irish “counter”-intelligence unit , My Local Pub , Eire >
What a joke. In my last job I worked closely with Garda, every Christmas a number of them would actually give me lists of what booze they wanted to ensure I had their cooperation. On top of that a certain Central Dublin station used to have a nick name over Christmas “Little Venice” as the corridors ran with booze supplied by local business men! Corruption in any other country!
I worked for a well know food retailer in a former life. Every Christmas the sales reps dropped in a bottle of whiskey to the store manager. Now is that corruption or just being nice at Christmas time? Some people on here are so up their own arses.
Rep giving a bottle of whiskey to a supermarket manager is normal. Supermarket managers don’t police the streets and overlook crimes by said rep.
Mad, did the rep arrest people? Or work for the state?
Actually, if you want to be consistent in your condemnation, a rep giving a bottle to a store manager is nothing more than a bribe to encourage the manager to keep his business with them. In cases where the manager is also the owner then it’s not a problem. in cases where the manager is not the owner he has a responsibility to make good business decisions and accepting those gifts compromises his ability to do that impartially.
A supermarket manager doesn’t police the streets or uphold law and order. Totally ridiculous comparison.
Seán your utter prejudice against the guards is breath taking.
Should we lock up the local community guard for taking a bottle of wine and a box of roses at Christmas time from a grateful citizen he/she may have assisted in the preceding year?
Should we lock up my granny for attempting to induce the local Sergeant into committing an act of corruption because she thought it would be nice to give him a voucher to say thanks for doing his/her job well.
You’re an absolute hypocrite.
Hell when I was a young fella my father ran a local business at xmas having huge amount of booze arrive. Bottle for every customer plus bottles for local bin men bottles for local council lads as well as bottle or two for local garda station. Its called community spirit. Not corrupt in the slightest your just recognising the work they do and saying thanks.
No big deal. Im a paye worker now and I dont do as my father did but I should actually.
No evidence but keep on digging there fellas. My wife is a Garda. She gets a tray of veg from a local farmer every Christmas. It’s a way of a citizen showing appreciation to the local Garda who works all year patrolling and protecting the local community. No favours are sought or received by same farmer. It may shock some of you but some people in society still actually appreciate and respect the Gardai for the work they do in our society.
Perspective Keith
“Community spirit”
Ha Ha
I believe they prefer hampers these days.
The sheer ignorance of some on here is breath taking. Comparing a company who has committed offences against a community giving guards drinks to overlook said offences with a granny giving a tray of veg to a cop is astonishingly stupid.
Hmmm Sean they didn’t. Can you prove it? It was proven as faked.
But no issue at all with guards or even teachers getting bottle at xmas. You might try becoming more involved in your community.
Sure the Guards drank it all ,that’s why they could not find it
The full story. What the journal omitted was that gsoc farmed the investigation out to a mayo guard to complete. They didn’t do the investigation themselves.
GSOC requested OSSL to provide proof of purchase, delivery, phone records and emails. OSSL then refused to co-operate. Says it all. Lies.
So what are you implying, that the investigation is corrupt, if so that’s a fair allegation maybe you should go to gsoc and make a complaint
I’m suggesting that it’s more than a little odd that a mayo superintendent carries out an investigation of mayo guards (many of whom he’s worked with) under the guise of an independent investigation by gsoc. About as transparent as muck.
Produce receipt for purchase or evidence of bank withdrawal/transfer..without that it’s all a bag of sh!te.
Yes Seán, it’s very mucky indeed. About as mucky as somebody making a very serious allegation and when asked to substantiate that allegation by providing evidence to corroborate their claims, they run a f*cking mile.
That’s the only muck around this story Sean. The muck that was the allegation from the very outset.
Doesn’t even justify an answer if you can’t come to the conclusion on that one.
#Flush It
Another nothing to see here moment !!
I have tried all my life to try and see nothing but the closest I got was the back of my eyelids … and they are something because they were real when I opened my eyes …nothing is a very confusing subject I could think about it all day !
New meaning to the term “Pig and Porter”…………………………………………………………………………………………………
shell giving gardai drugs as a sweetner dear o dear
It’s weird, the journal ran an article of the 10 best offices places to work with . At 5 or so had fully stocked bars.
It wasnt alcohol, it was a gallon of Castrol 15/45
Mr Kane-OSSL- claimed his company was paid by Shell for smaller amounts of alcohol delivered to the garda station before Christmas 2005 and 2006, and that it was also employed to provide “sweeteners” for the local community, the invoices for which were shredded.
Skiddly idle diddle didle doodle didle da …”employ the schnackbox device ”
I’d say every cop in the country was splitting their sides when that beauty was aimed at our Dailers !
Not proven and don’t do it again. Good day for the lads in the RDS branch of the guards down on the golden mile.
Take the report as it is no booze cruise but don’t forget about Shell’s bumper profit and all going abroad nothing nothing to the Irish people sold down the river by the Irish Government where there is gas there is oil yes oil
Do you really think there going to hold there hands up,,, yes sir we have had a lot of booze , but you cant find it as we drank it , hence no evidence,
Don’t be silly.
Cops don’t drink.
Note to The Journal: this is what actual journalism is
http://www.broadsheet.ie/2014/07/11/gsoc-tore-up-our-statements/
And another thing;
I wouldn’t normally pay attention to the ratio of down/up thumbs on posts, but last night it stuck out like a sore thumb, just how many downvotes comments (questioning the reports validity) on this thread were receiving, and just how quickly they were accumulating when compared to the upvotes, all in a very short time of the article going live.
It just didn’t, and still doesn’t, look like a natural discussion where folks disagree or agree.
It did, and still does, look unnatural – the only possibility being a concerted effort by parties involved to guide discussion.
Not very endearing. But maybe I’m just too suspicious. Although, these days……can you blame me?
have your say